A significant amount of emotion can come into play for anyone when they are traveling. It can hit you when you least expect it, and it’s these sorts of moments that carries with you for the rest of your life. The city of Providence, Rhode Island changed my world long before I started traveling to it for journalism purposes, and it took me almost fifteen years after I made my first trip there to truly realize the impact this area has had on my personal world.
I started going to college in Providence back in 2004, when the city was consistently under construction as they were building themselves into the gem that it has become today. It was unfortunately during this time when I lost my mother to cancer, and my life was forever changed right when that happened. I thought about dropping out of college immediately but decided that I needed to go back to school to continue my education and my life overall. I headed back to the capital city only 9 days after my mother passed, and to say it was brutal was a complete understatement.
At some point, I was able to shift gears and see the city a lot more clearly. In the beginning, it was a place I didn’t want to be in as I felt I should’ve been home with my family and friends during this tough time. Then it hit me: Providence was an escape. It was an area that I never had any experiences in with my mother, so in a way this was an unbiased space where I can go and experience life on a different level emotionally than I did at home. It took me almost two years to figure that out, and I’m so glad it did because I was able to appreciate and eventually love Providence for practically changing and saving my life simultaneously.
It’s been about a decade since I’ve graduated, and since then I have visited the area several times as I always get this nostalgic vibe every single time I’ve come back. Things have changed a bit over the past couple of years, however the vibe of Providence remains the same and is one that you should check out yourself if you are looking to travel this coming fall.
There is so much to see and do in Providence that it is truly hard to pinpoint where to go first. Let’s get yourself to the train station and into a comfortable hotel room. Omni Providence is a fabulous spot to stay in for many different reasons. For one, it is close to a ton of major hotspots and walking distance from the train station (or a short cab/Uber ride away). The rooms have a fantastic view of the city and are comfortable and relaxing to boot. They are also connected to the Providence Place Mall, which is an iconic space in Providence that you can spend endless amounts of hours shopping in.
The sights you can see in Providence run the muck of varied interests one can have. If you are into museums, they have you covered and then some. The Museum of Natural History and Planetarium and the Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art and so much more have you covered on the sights and sounds of the city and world’s history.
Waterfire is one of the best experiences you will have while in Providence. The schedule for this starts getting busier starting next month, and rightfully so as the city is lit up with various forms of fire shows and several other activities that make for a great night out with your friends and family. It’s romantic, exciting, captivating and more all wrapped up into one fabulous evening.
I couldn’t do this piece without mentioning the incredible amount of food that Providence has to offer. Some of the highlights while I was there recently included Circe (delicious New American fare), Hemenway’s (some of the best seafood items in the entire state), Costantino’s Venda Bar & Ristorante (scrumptious Italian cuisine in a gorgeous setting) and Providence Coal Fired Pizza (delicious pizza pies and more). Oh, and for dessert… PVDonuts because, well… DONUTS ARE AWESOME!
I fell in love with Providence many moons ago, and the hope is that you will too. It is truly a special and wonderful experience to have that will leave you with a huge smile on your face after you leave. For more information, click here.